Apparatus for filling cases with a plurality of articles arranged in a predetermined pattern

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for filling cases with a plurality of articles while arranged in a predetermined pattern. The apparatus includes a pair of staging areas disposed on opposite sides of a first station. Each staging area accommodates a predetermined number of articles. Disposed in vertical alignment with and beneath the first station is a second station wherein a predetermined number of cases are disposed. Adjustably mounted above each staging area is a carrier having a plurality of article gripper members. When the predetermined number of articles are accommodated at the staging areas, the gripper members engage the articles and raise same to preliminary stations above the staging areas. While at each preliminary station the gripped articles are arranged in a row and a selected article is segregated from the row and moved relative thereto in a direction towards the other row of gripped articles. Once the selected articles have been segregated, the raised articles and the respective carriers are moved to the first station wherein the articles assume a predetermined pattern. The articles, while in the predetermined pattern are lowered into one or more cases disposed at the second station. The carriers then return to their respective staging areas and the procedure is repeated until the cases are filled whereupon the filled cases are conveyed away from the apparatus.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for loading a plurality of articles arranged in a predetermined pattern into at least one open top receptacle, said apparatus comprising a frame having a first station wherein the plurality of articles are assembled in the predetermined pattern, and a second station spaced from said first station wherein at least one receptacle is positioned; first conveyor means for moving the articles to a pair of staging areas disposed on opposite sides of said first station, the articles being arranged in a row when disposed at each staging area; a second conveyor means for successively moving open top receptacles to said second station and then subsequently moving same when loaded away from the second station; a set of article-engaging means mounted proximate each staging area, each set being sequentially adjustable to effect engagement of the row of articles in the proximate staging area, raising the engaged articles to a preliminary station, laterally offsetting and segregating at least one engaged article from the row and relatively repositioning the remaining engaged articles in the row while the engaged articles are disposed at the preliminary station, and moving the segregated and repositioned articles to the first station whereby the articles engaged by both sets of article-engaging means coact to form the predetermined pattern; means for moving the articles in the predetermined pattern from the first station and depositing same into the open top receptacle at the second station; and means for returning each set of article-engaging means to proximate the respective staging area. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first station is elevated relative to the second station. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first and second stations are in substantially vertical alignment. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least the one selected article in the row of articles at the preliminary station is laterally offset in a direction towards the first station prior to being moved to said first station. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each staging area is provided with an adjustably mounted spacer means and a gate means, said spacer means being adjustable between operative and inoperative modes; when in an operative mode, said spacer means being disposed between and separating adjoining articles in the row of articles at the staging area and, when in the inoperative mode, being disposed out of the path of the articles when being conveyed by the first conveyor to the staging area; said gate means being adjustable between open and close modes; when in the close mode, said gate means blocking movement of the articles onto the staging area; said spacer means being adjusted to the operative mode only when said gate means is in the close mode. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each staging area is provided with an adjustable stop spaced a predetermined first distance from the gate means and engaged by an endmost article in a row when the predetermined number of articles have been assembled at the staging area, said stop being adjusted to a predetermined second distance from the gate means when the spacer means is in the operative mode; said second distance being greater than said first distance. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each article-engaging means includes a plurality of jaws for engaging an upper end portion of an article when the article is being raised to the preliminary station. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each set of article-engaging means depend from a horizontally disposed carriage, said carriage being in a substantially horizontal plane when the set of article-engaging means is being sequentially adjusted to effect engagement of the row of articles in the proximate staging area and raising of the engaged articles to the preliminary station, said carriage being adjustable in said substantially horizontal plane when the set of article-engaging means is being sequentially adjusted to effect movement of the segregated and repositioned articles from the preliminary station to the first station. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the carriage includes elongated substantially horizontal support means from which each article-engaging means depends, predetermined article-engaging means being independently adjustable longitudinally of the elongated support means when the engaged articles are disposed at said preliminary station. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the article-engaging means for the preselected article is mounted on a laterally extending support member pivotal about a substantially vertical axis; said article-engaging means being laterally offset from said pivotal axis. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the support member is pivotally connected to an article-engaging means of an article adjacent to the preselected article. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each carriage when sequentially moving from the preliminary station to the first station slidably engages substantially horizontal guide means affixed to a vertically adjustable frame section. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the frame section is vertically adjustable subsequent to the articles being assembled in the predetermined pattern at the first station and the predetermined number of receptacles being disposed at the second station. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sequential adjustment of each set of article-engaging means is regulated by control means mounted on the frame 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control means includes a computer programming unit.